China's Younger Generation (Unit 2 Lesson 4)

What general points might you conclude about China’s younger generation from the two sources you have examined?
The hopes and ambitions of Alex, who is currently studying computer engineering at UNCG and of Li (http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/video/2008/mar/10/li.furong), who is an exceptional violinist practicing at least 5 hours a day in Beijing, are very similar.
Alex wants to be successful, financially secure, help his family, society and China. He plans to accomplish this with hard work and the support of his family. He is very driven and although he is currently living in the US, he plans on returning to China and using his new found knowledge for the betterment of his country.
Li also wants to be successful, help her family and China. She is currently on scholarship studying music (violin), yet her family is struggling to pay for her education. Her father works 500 miles away and sends money in order for Li to fulfill her dream of becoming a renowned soloist.
Both Alex and Li’s parents experienced the Cultural Revolution. Alex believes that the CR has helped the Chinese government to learn from their past mistakes. Li is being pressured by her father to be the next great violinist, since his career in the Shanghai Orchestra was put to an end by the CR.
Both youths have aspiration of greatness, devout parents, individual needs and a commitment to hard work.
Education is most important and quite expensive. The entire family must sacrifice in order for the child to succeed. Alex points out that since the majority of Chinese live by the one child motto; it is not unusual for the parents to devote their lives to their one child. This puts a lot of pressure on the child to succeed. Li stated “I do feel under pressure, because my parents’ unfulfilled ambitions rest on me.”
It is interesting that both Alex and Li incorporate the need to help their family, and this makes me wonder if their aspirations and dreams are truly their own, or a reflection of what their parents want for them.
Li plans on becoming an international performer, and once she has reached that goal, she will return to China to contribute to her motherland. Alex, currently abroad, will finish his studies and return to China and bring back the high-tech knowledge he has acquired.
Both want to make a difference in their country. As Li stated “If I become a performer abroad, I will live there for a while, but in the end I will return to China. What I learned abroad I will contribute to my motherland. In the end I will live in China.”
I hope, for the sake of both families, that Alex and Li succeed.

On a personal note, I witnessed on two different occasions the suicide of two Chinese students at the University of Florida. It was later discovered that both students felt such pressure from their families and themselves to succeed, that anything less was unacceptable.

China a world power? (Unit 2 lesson 3)

China is a world power, no doubt about it. Consider the definition of world power in Webster’s dictionary: a political unit (as a nation or state) powerful enough to affect the entire world by its influence or actions.
In order to limit the discussion, I will focus on the economy. China has become the 4^th largest, after US, Japan and Germany. She has experienced a two digit growth rate for the past 30 years. Per the Economist “For the first time China is now contributing more to global GDP growth (measured at market exchange rates) than the United States is” (How fit is the panda, Sept. 27^th 2007).
Interesting to note, even the US recession will have little effect on China. This is good news since a global recession would be catastrophic. Since China’s net exports are about 25% of its growth, the US recession would have little effect on China.
Now let’s take China’s actions. Since most of the world is capitalist, human rights issues are placed on the backburner when it comes to importing cheap goods from China. China will continue to behave inhumanly with the knowledge that there will be no consequence from the international arena. In 1993, under the Clinton Administration, Bill Clinton himself thought he could attach a human rights condition order to trade negotiations with China. Although the conditions were minimal, China still failed to meet them and instead made more political arrests. In 1994 the human rights condition clause was taken out of Chinese commerce agreements in order for the US to continue our trade relationship with China.
Since the reforms, China has changed from a sleeping giant to an international world power. China has had the resources all along, and the open door policy helped flourish her growth. The world is paying close attention to China, and that is another true sign of a world power.

Infant Formula Milk Powder -- Made in China

Article from March 1o, 2008:

MADISON, N.J. — Wyeth has announced that it is investing $280 million to build a state-of-the-art nutritional manufacturing facility in Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu Province, China. The new facility will primarily produce infant formula milk powder and other nutritional products.

When completed, the site will be one of the world's largest nutritional manufacturing facilities.

Construction at the site started this month, and the plant is scheduled to be operational by late 2010. At full operation, the plant is expected to employ about 500 employees. Products made at this facility will primarily supply the local market.

Two short comments:
1 -- Baby formula --> Yikes!
2 -- Primarily supply the local market --> Is any of the product going to be consumed in the US?